Migrants in Sweden fear effects of arrest

By Julian Isherwood in Vasteras

12:01AM BST 31 Aug 2002

Swedish immigrant organisations fear that the arrest of an Islamic man for attempted hijack will further poison conditions for Swedish Muslims as the political parties jockey for position before the general election on Sept 15.

With the opposition Liberal Party already having played the race card - calling for new legislation to be adopted to allow nationality and residence permits to be rescinded for immigrants who commit serious crime - it is unlikely that the two other main parties can avoid a divisive debate.

"I don't think Sweden will ever be the same after this election. Sweden was always known for its relaxed attitude towards immigrants, but that is over," said Joe Franz, a Ghanaian-Swede who is standing for election for the ruling Social Democrats in a Stockholm constituency.

"I think the events of the past couple of days may now have a serious effect on the election campaign.

"The case [of the 29-year-old] will only serve to increase suspicion, particularly against the Muslim community."

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With election time close, the unwritten agreement between the Social Democrats and the main opposition Conservative Party not to play an immigrant card now seems likely to be ignored.

Goeran Persson, the prime minister, has already made it clear that a tightening of asylum rules is likely, and that he is opposed to any form of labour immigration to fill gaps in the workforce.

Muslims in Sweden had breathed a sigh of relief in the past two weeks after the authorities convinced the United States and United Nations that two of three Somali Muslims on the international terrorism list should be removed. The third is under investigation.